#ian eagelton

[benisasoftboi]

I met the author of this book, Ian Eagleton, at a children’s book festival I was working at last weekend. He was so lovely, and I thought his book looked good, so I bought it, got him to sign it, and have just finished reading it.

Glitter Boy is an excellent middle grade novel which follows an eleven year old boy called James who loves singing and dancing and Mariah Carey. He also adores his lovely grandmother, but has been having a hard time with his mother, who walked out on them, and his dad, who’s not so sure about having a son who’s this fabulous. And, unfortunately, that sentiment is shared by some of the boys at school.

Poor James goes through the wringer, he really does - homophobia and his parents’ divorce and fighting with friends and the death of a loved one, Eagleton does not give this kid an easy time. But he also gives James a brilliant best friend, and some great gay mentors, and a really sweet when-they’re-both-a-bit-older love interest (because spoilers, while there’s clearly a mutual crush, they don’t get together, they’re still only eleven). And he also gives James a happy ending. I might have teared up a little.

The book also has a whole lot of stuff in it about LGBT history and the rights movement, and the celebration of specific figures - Marsha P. Johnson in particular is the focus of a whole subplot. You can tell the author is also an activist himself, and has a background in teaching.

If you like reading kids’ books, or you have a kid in your life who’s in that middle grade 9-13 age range, I really recommend this!